Solar Panel Certification Process in Brazil Business

Brazil is more advanced than most countries around
the globe when it comes to clean energy, but the solar power
presence is yet to be expanded in the energy matrix. This article
outlines the certification process of solar panels to Brazil.

Brazil is known for having one of the most sustainable energy
matrix in the world, with 41,2% of the domestic supply composed of
renewable energy^[1], mainly of sugarcane^[2]
biomass and hydropower. On the contrary as many would expect, the
country does not yet take advantage of its solar potential, which
is extremely high due to the country’s geographic position.

Foreign manufacturers for photovoltaic systems see Brazil as a
potential market, but in order to import and commercialise solar
panels in Brazil, it is necessary for the products to be approved
by Inmetro^[3], and that they follow
certain local standards.

Brazilian Labelling Programme (PBE)

With the increase in the consumption and commercialisation of
solar panels, the Brazilian government has found it necessary to
monitor and control them, which is why the Programa Brasileiro
de Etiquetagem (or the Brazilian Labelling Programme^[4], known as PBE) was
created.

PBE is coordinated by Inmetro and mainly focuses on energy
efficiency. Nowadays the programme is composed of different levels
of Conformity Evaluation Programmes, that comprise of labelling
electrical appliances and the labelling of products related to
renewable energy, such as solar-thermal and photovoltaic equipment.
The programmes related to solar panels are:

National Stamp of Energy Conservation (ENCE)

Both solar-thermal and photovoltaic equipment must have the
National Stamp of Energy Conservation (ENCE), which is a conformity
stamp that classifies equipment from “A,” which means more
efficient, to “E,” less efficient, and provides other relevant
information. In order to be classified in these categories, the
products must be tested by Inmetro before being imported to
Brazil.

Steps for Solar Panels Certification for Importing

All products comprised in the Conformity Evaluation Programme in
the scope of PBE, have its importation authorised through the
issuance of an Import
License^[5], known as LI, by Siscomex^[6]. The LI must be issued
before the product embarks its country of origin. Which means, that
the importation of solar-thermal and photovoltaic equipment doesn’t
have automatic licensing, the importer must register the LI before
embarking.

1) LI to Equipment Samples

All importers must register an LI, short for import license, on
Siscomex to the equipment samples that will be subjected to
testing. To get the LI it is necessary to pay an Approval Tax,
through the Union Collection Guide, which is BRL 60 as of January
2017. The LI will be analysed by Inmetro within a maximum of 60
days.

2) Tests in Laboratories – Conformity Evaluation

The tests performed in order to label equipment are realised by
laboratories accredited by the Coordination Department of Inmetro,
the Cgcre/Inmetro, according to the rules and requirements
established by the Conformity Evaluation Requirements, known as
RAC, that can be viewed
here^[7].

The equipment must be tested in the following laboratories:

• Research Center of Electric Energy (CEPEL)
• Research and Development (CPpD/ASE)
• Institute of Electrotechnical and Energy of the University of
  São Paulo (IEE/USP)
• Solar Energy Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio Grande
  do Sul (UFRGS)
• Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais
  (GREEN/PUC-MG)
• Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ)
• Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul
  (LABELO/PUC-RS)

3) Inmetro Certification of the Equipment Tested

The difference between the importation of solar-thermal and
photovoltaic equipment is that the first ones, as was observed in
the table above, are exempt from Inmetro registration.

This means that, after the Conformity Evaluation, the
solar-thermal equipment can have its LI duly registered with
Siscomex followed by the approval to be imported and commercialised
in Brazil. Whilst the photovoltaic equipment still needs to be
registered by Inmetro and to follow the procedures listed
below.

To get this registration, it’s necessary to log in to the
registration system of Inmetro which is available here^[8]. Along with the
application, it is necessary to attach the following
documentation:

• Registration application
• Copy of the articles
  of association^[9]
  of the importer
• Commitment term of the conformity evaluation signed by the
  legal representative
• Notarised copy^[10] of the legal
  representative’s identity card
• Test reports developed in the laboratory accredited to
  Inmetro
• Models of the labels that will be put on the products for
  commercialisation
• Other documents that could be required by Inmetro

It’s also necessary to pay the Conformity Evaluation Tax of BRL
60 through the Union Collection Guide.

4) LI to Labelled and Certified Products

The importer must finally register the LI of the authorised
equipment on Siscomex systems to begin the import of the equipment.
To get the LI, it is necessary to pay an Approval Tax of BRL 60
through the Union Collection Guide.

5) Maintenance of the Inmetro Certification

The importer responsible for the certification, must renew it
every year, otherwise the registration is cancelled. To maintain
the certification, the person responsible must access the system
and attach the new laboratory reports according to the rules
established by the Conformity Evaluation Requirements.

Important Considerations

• To import and register their equipment, foreign companies must
  have a legal representative in Brazil
• The LI is analysed in order of arrival, with the objective of
  promoting equal treatment to all suppliers
• Nowadays, Inmetro doesn’t recognise analysis of foreign
  laboratories
• There isn’t any bilateral or multilateral mutual recognition
  agreements to certification of products. Even in the case of
  equipment certified by foreign laboratory units. It’s required to
  have the labelling and the certification by Inmetro